Arsenal: Striker interest confirmed – report

Arsenal are reportedly preparing a shock move for Nikola Zigic to solve their injury problem up front. The long-term injury to Olivier Giroud means that Arsenal are without an established centre forward and according to The Daily Star they are looking to bring in the 33-year-old as a quick fix.

Arsene Wenger has apparently already been in contact with the player’s agent about a short-term contract until January with the same source reporting Milan Calasan as saying:

“Wenger called me in the afternoon on Tuesday and stressed the desire to engage Nikola Zigic.

“He was offered a contract to the end of the year, with an option to extend until the end of 2015. We will see what happens, but everything Nikola has to decide.”

The deal would see the Serbian striker join Arsenal until January, when Giroud is likely to return to the squad, with the possibility of extending the contract until the end of the season.

Arsenal fans are unlikely to see Zigic as the solution to their injury crisis. Rather than a world-class striker they would instead be getting a man who has spent the past four seasons at Birmingham City.

However, the North London club would be acquiring a big lad who plays a similar type of game to Giroud, for no transfer fee and at no extra cost apart from his wages.

Despite the fact that he has played in The Championship for the past three seasons, Zigic still has a strong goal scoring record. In his 470 club appearances he has scored a total of 241 goals and netted 20 times for the Serbian national team.

And with Theo Walcott, who can play as a striker, set to return from injury in the very near future Wenger may only see Zigic as a player who will have a limited role in the squad.